Chapter 8: Ofelia & Ediltrude
Tecna continued to crouch next to his unconscious body as she waited for some sort of response besides nothing. He lay motionless, and the minutes seemed to pass by like hours for Tecna. She couldn't believe how Valtor's headaches could cripple him to this point…they didn't make any sense. No one got headaches like this; ever. As much as Valtor detested going to the hospital; she figured after this incident he would be sent immediately. Even she was worried about sending him to the hospital because his illness was highly strange and illogical, and there was the possibility of someone finding out that he had taken some sort of cure for his brain. She could only hope that only good could come from a visit from the hospital.
Suddenly Valtor cracked his eyes open weakly in the dim moonlight, "T-Tecna…what happened...?"
Tecna began to cry as she realized how much pain he was in, "You collapsed," she whispered softly as she leaned over him. Valtor looked up at her weakly as she went and kissed him softly on the lips. She parted away, "I am so sorry…"
He gave a small smile, "It's not your fault…" She backed away and stood up away from Valtor. She shrieked out and transformed into her Enchantix form. Without another word she reached underneath his slightly crippled body and lifted him up. She began to fly up into the sky with as much might as she could and flew in the direction towards the hospital.
"I should have brought you sooner," Tecna replied solemnly.
"You're…bringing me to the h-hospital, aren't you?" Valtor managed to reply weakly, "They're…going to find out something…is different about me. Please, I don't need to go…"
Tecna bitterly fought more tears, "Stop being illogical. You collapsed Valtor, and when your headaches are getting this severe then you need to see a medical professional."
"More…like a W-Witch," he shut his eyes weakly again.
"I promise I will be there to make sure no Witch touches you. I will explain your caffeine intakes," she replied, "This is the only logical solution for you now. Your headaches are becoming too severe, and I'm worried you might…die."
"Die is such a harsh word Tecna…don't say that," he reassured her but went back to his previous thought, "Well, what are they going to do to help me out?"
Tecna thought about it for a moment as she caught a glimpse of the hospital below, "Medication, and at the most they might implant a small device in you to minimize the pain. You have nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure?" He croaked in pain, "…never mind, I'd really like it if they stopped this pain." Tecna was still sure he wasn't okay with going to the hospital, but at this point he didn't have another option available. As much as Valtor still hated the idea Tecna knew this was becoming a life or death situation. Valtor just needed to realize how severe his headaches were getting, and Tecna hoped he would realize it soon.
She sighed and landed her feet directly in front of the hospital. Within moments Valtor was whisked away by professionals on a levitating bed. As he was rushed deep inside the hospital corridors Tecna remained no farther than a couple metres away. Soon they found themselves in an operating room, but by the time they reached there Valtor was knocked unconscious again.
A couple doctors were positioned around Valtor as they began to try and get to the root of the problem, and Tecna noticed them pull out X-rays, and a bunch of funky looking gadgets. She attempted to get closer but found herself ushered out into the hall by another doctor with an operating mask concealing his face. Instead of going back inside he led Tecna to an office just down the hall and ushered her inside without a word.
Before he left Tecna croaked up, "When-when can I see him?" The man looked at her in a monotone way behind his operating mask and merely shut her inside the room he guided her to.
She awkwardly looked around the simple office: a large desk in the middle of the room with a giant chair on one side and two smaller chairs on the other. Large cabinets lined the wall, and Tecna noticed a large medical degree posted up on the wall. Tecna read the name of the degree out loud, "Ofelia."
"Yes, that's me," Tecna realized she wasn't alone in the room and finally noticed there was an older woman sitting in the large chair in front of the office desk. She was a much older woman with auburn hair pulled into a bun. She had small blue eyes hidden behind wide black-rimmed glasses, and she had a pointed jaw and square-like head. She wore a simple white lab coat. She spoke up again and smiled, "You must be Tecna. You came in with that unconscious gentleman, am I right?" She gestured for stunned Tecna to come have a seat in front of her desk. Well, at least she seemed nicer than the other doctors.
"H-How did you know I came in with…V-Valtor?" She slowly seated herself in front of Ofelia.
The woman smiled as she pulled out a small device, "Don't worry Tecna I'm not some spy. I get all my hospital feeds on this small device. As soon as you two entered your identities were scanned, and I'm getting reports on your friend's condition as we speak." It relaxed Tecna to know the woman was being so calm and casual with her. She figured Ofelia was here to talk to Tecna about Valtor's background info since he wasn't conscious enough to speak.
"How is he doing?"
Ofelia replied, "They're checking him over as we speak. How has he been doing up until this point?" She looked calmly at Tecna.
Tecna gulped nervously, "He's been having periodic headaches. They might last for minutes, or for hours. They started mild, but now they've grown to be quite severe. That's why I brought him in today. I was…worried."
"Why did you wait until now to bring him?"
Tecna sighed, "He was reluctant to go because he doesn't like hospitals. He just wouldn't go, and frankly he still doesn't want to be here. We're thinking they were caused by his large caffeine intakes." That was Tecna's only assumption for the cause. But he stopped drinking caffeine for a while now, and he still got the headaches. Tecna wondered what in the world could be causing him pain.
"Large caffeine intakes?" Ofelia raised an eyebrow behind her glasses.
"He likes to drink a lot of caffeinated drinks," Tecna lied.
"Well after today you should realize that it is not safe to have that much caffeine," Ofelia explained, "It may cause insomnia, shaking movements in the body, and intense headaches. He should really stop for the time being before…" she looked down at her small device, "Something bad happens. Hm, it seems they're going to implant a small device into him."
"A small device, where?" Tecna questioned swiftly.
"Around one of his teeth so we don't have to perform surgery. It should send some soothing impulses and medication through his nerves in his tooth right to his head, and right to the root of the problem."
"So Valtor is going to be okay then?" Tecna looked at Ofelia for reassuring words. She fiddled with her hair nervously.
She paused and took a deep breath, "For the time being he should be fine. We're just trying to ease the pain for now because we don't think this is anything serious to worry about…" She replied, "We're having some highly specialized medical staff look at him right now. Just stop with the caffeine and he will return to normal, understood?"
Tecna gave her a pretty smile as she got up from her seat, "Understood."
XxxxXxxxXxxxXxxxX
Moments later Tecna entered Valtor's recovery room, and the first thing she did was panic on the inside. He lay fast asleep in a plain hospital bed, and he actually looked quite peaceful to Tecna and she was happy about that. The thing that panicked her most was the person watching over him; a Witch. Tecna shuttered at the tall pale woman with sleek black and white hair. Her face was long and pointed, and she had piercing black eyes. She wore a typical Witch uniform. She couldn't believe she was watching over Valtor, and she even promised Valtor a Witch wouldn't touch him, "This must be the highly specialized medical professional Ofelia was telling me about…" She thought to herself.
The Witch's eyes pierced right through Tecna as she looked unimpressed by her presence. Tecna spoke up bravely, "Who-who are you and what are you doing here?" Tecna darted her eyes at the Witch.
"Ediltrude, and I was just leaving," she hissed out and left the room leaving Tecna in the state of shock.
"Wait!" Tecna shouted at her. The Witch stopped mid-step and turned to face Tecna. She looked at her with disappointment and lack of amusement.
Ediltrude crossed her arms, "Yes?"
"You don't look like a medical professional…" Tecna remarked quietly.
"A Witch can work in a hospital if she wants," the Witch huffed in a monotone voice, "I was just here monitoring Valtor's condition after his minor operation. Just because I'm a Witch doesn't mean you need to get suspicious…I'm just doing my job. Now if you don't mind I have another patient I need to check over." She turned away and Tecna could hear her heels clink all the way down the hall until they suddenly vanished.
Tecna breathed slowly as she tried to calm herself, "She was just a medical professional…she was just looking over Valtor to make sure he was okay…she couldn't have done anything or know about…" She paused, "No, I'm sure Ediltrude meant no harm except to do her job and look over patients. I'm sure of it," she forced herself to smile, "She was just doing her job to make sure Valtor was okay."
Tecna sighed and pulled a chair next to Valtor's bedside. She was finally glad he was free of his pain, but now all they had to deal with was the Dark Magic bracelets. Suddenly he began to stir and his eyes cracked open very softly and slowly.
He smiled, "Tec…" He tried to talk out but Tecna reached over from her spot sitting next to him and kissed his softly yet passionately on the lips. She wasn't sure why her first instinct was to kiss him, but she had a sudden urge of emotions. She was just so relieved he was okay. As soon as their lips parted he looked up at her with happiness and relief, "It's good to see you too…" He spoke timidly.
She reached and held his hand that was resting limply next to him. Tecna softly grasped his hand, "How are you feeling?" The look on his face though indicated he was just tired at this point.
"Tired, but I feel a whole hell of a lot better than earlier," He used all the strength he had to prop himself higher up on his pillows, "How long have I been here?"
"Hour at the most," she smiled to relax him, "They worked quite rapidly..." She swallowed the thought of telling him about Ediltrude. There was no reason to panic him and bring up the fact there was a Witch in there earlier.
"What did they do? He questioned slowly. Suddenly his eyes widened, "Hey…there's something on my tooth…" Tecna giggled as Valtor made funny expressions trying to feel the device with his tongue. He pulled a portion of his gum so Tecna could see. On one of the upper back teeth Tecna could see a small and silver diamond shaped piece of metal engraved into his tooth.
"That's the small device they put into you," Tecna explained, "It's going to send soothing pain relievers to help with your headaches. I won't get into the specifics."
"Ah, I see," Valtor sighed and shut his eyes slowly, "So when can I leave?"
"You're free to leave whenever you have the strength," Tecna smiled, "We can just head back to my apartment if you like. You can rest while I…do my research," she looked down at her wrist and Valtor's wrist to make sure they had scarves around their bracelets.
"Research?" Valtor raised an eyebrow. She wondered if he was still too tired to remember the Fairy Encyclopedia sent to her from Sparx.
She stood up proudly and full of confidence. She hushed her voice, "I'm going to find the counteracting spell; today."
"I kn-know you have the book," Valtor looked at her in shock, "But how can you be so sure you'll crack the spell today?"
Tecna lowered her voice into a very hush whisper, "The more we wait around in this city the more we risk getting caught by Witches. We honestly can't wait around any longer or else escape might not happen. As soon as we leave here I'm going to find Aisha and tell her to prepare the others and everything needed for tonight."
"Tonight?"
She almost didn't speak out loud because of how hushed her voice was. Knowing what she was about to say next would make any Witch cringe with delight, "We're going to escape Magix, tonight."
"Do you really mean that?" He smiled up at her.
Tecna kissed him on the cheek, "We're finally going to get out of this illogical city."
Ediltrude is a professor at Cloud Tower for anyone who didn't recognize her. Wow, this story is nearly done…a couple more chapters to go. Then I will move onto Witches. Next chapter: the counteracting spell.